Arab-Israeli truck driver found guilty of terror attack

JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Arab-Israeli truck driver who slammed into cars and pedestrians on a main thoroughfare in Tel Aviv was convicted of murder and of perpetrating a terror attack.

Ibrahim Islam Issa, 23, of the Arab-Israeli town of Kfar Kassam, was convicted Thursday in the Tel Aviv District Court of murder and six counts of attempted murder, as well as aggravated assault.

Issa killed one man and wounded 17 other people on May 15, 2011, the day observed by Palestinians as Nakba Day, which mourns the establishment of the State of Israel.

Issa hit buses, cars and pedestrians during his two-mile terror spree. He told police that a flat tire caused him to lose control of his truck. But the court found that the attack was nationalistically motivated, pointing out that he called out "Allah Akbar" ("God is great") and attempted to hit cars displaying Israeli flags and pedestrians wearing military uniforms.